The old saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me," is not true. Names hurt us much more than sticks and stones, especially names that deny our identity. For example, it was an insult from his wife rather than his physical problems that drove Tobit to wish for death (Tb 2:14ff).

Likewise, one of the most damaging things anyone can do to a male is to question his masculinity with the comment: "You're not a real man." It's worse than a physical beating to tell a mother she's a failure in raising her children. At work, fellow employees bait a Christian to get him angry and then say: "You're a poor excuse for a Christian."

One of Jesus' greatest sufferings was not the stones, or even the nails or thorns, but the insult when He was called "only a man" who blasphemed by making Himself God (Jn 10:33). That may have hurt more than the scourging and pained Him more than the crucifixion. Jesus was being nailed on the cross way before Calvary. He endured it all out of love for us.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 3, 2006 & September 18, 2006

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